Fisiiahi, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound "athlete," was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals after starring as a fullback and linebacker for Kaiser High School in Honolulu. He also had offers from Hawaii, Washington State and Nevada.

"I'm just doing what I love, and that's just playing rugby," Fisiiahi told the TV station. "I don't want to do something that I'm not going to be 100 percent at. So I'm just trying to follow my dreams, where my real dreams (are) at, and that's rugby."

Fisiiahi was once a captain of the USA high school All-America rugby team and said he had only been playing that sport since the winter.

Fisiiahi is the second signee to pass on playing football at OSU in favor of a different sport. Tight end Jake Knight will focus on track and field.